Silicon is the basis of most modern technology, including cellular phones and computers. But according to Tel Aviv University researchers, this material is quickly becoming outdated in an industry producing ever-smaller products that are less harmful to the environment.

The researchers have brought together cutting-edge techniques from multiple fields of science to create protein-based transistors from organic materials found in the human body. They could become the basis of a new generation of nano-sized technologies that are both flexible and biodegradable.

The researchers turned to biology and chemistry for a different approach to building a transistor. When applied to a base material various combinations of blood, milk, and mucus proteins molecules self-assemble to create a semi-conducting film on a nano-scale. In the case of blood protein, for example, the film has a thickness of approximately 4 nm. The researchers have already succeeded in taking the first step towards biodegradable displays. [via]